Music & Culture

Music & Culture

First Listen: River Whyless, 'We All The Light'

7:00am August 18, 2016

by Bob Boilen

The Asheville, N.C., band blends violin, guitars, drums, harmonium, cello, banjo, toy piano and (most importantly) vocal harmonies to make a record steeped in the American acoustic tradition.

Music & Culture

First Listen: The Album Leaf, 'Between Waves'

7:00am August 18, 2016

by Jason Heller

On its sixth album (and first since 2010), Jimmy LaValle's hushed ambient project has a way with whispers, minimalism and intimacy.

Music & Culture

First Listen: Barbra Streisand, 'Encore'

7:00am August 18, 2016

by Mark Mobley

Encore is an amiable Broadway/Hollywood mashup of vintage production values and modern casting, with guest performances by Melissa McCarthy, Anne Hathaway, Hugh Jackman, Jamie Foxx and more.

NPR contributor Jason King (right) sits down with R&B star Maxwell in an episode of the documentary series Noteworthy.

Music & Culture

Zooming In On The Creative Process, One Artist At A Time

6:10pm August 17, 2016

by NPR Staff

Audie Cornish speaks with NPR's Jason King about the new documentary series Noteworthy, in which he profiles prominent musicians and reveals the secrets behind how they write, produce and record.

Music & Culture

The Thistle & Shamrock: Brittany

2:36pm August 17, 2016

Intoxicating melodies fill the air this week, with Breton bands Kornog and Skolvan, vocalist Annie Ebrel and the father of contemporary Celtic music in Brittany, Alan Stivell.

Music & Culture

Dinosaur Jr. On World Cafe

2:33pm August 17, 2016

The alt-rock trio's original members perform songs from their latest album, Give A Glimpse Of What Yer Not.

Music & Culture

Earls Of Leicester Mix Bluegrass With Gospel And Honky-Tonk On 'Rattle & Roar'

1:44pm August 17, 2016

by Ken Tucker

The band, which began as a tribute to the The Foggy Mountain Boys, won a Grammy for their debut album in 2015. Critic Ken Tucker says the Earls' new record, Rattle & Roar, lives up to its title.

Queue Listen Now

Music & Culture

Dawes Announce New Album, Hear The Lead Single Now

1:01pm August 17, 2016

by Robin Hilton

"When The Tequila Runs Out" is the first taste of Dawes' grimly titled We're All Gonna Die, which drops Sept. 16 and features some impressive collaborations.

Music & Culture

Hear New Music From The Tallest Man On Earth

12:45pm August 17, 2016

by Bob Boilen

The new song from The Tallest Man On Earth is a passionate tale of leaving.

A still from Oathbreaker's "10:56 / Second Son of R." video.

Music & Culture

Songs We Love: Oathbreaker, '10:56 / Second Son of R.'

10:00am August 17, 2016

by Lars Gotrich

The Belgian hardcore band needles urgent black metal and melancholy melody with a feral grace. "We wanted the video to hurt," Caro Tanghe says, "just like writing down these words hurt to me."